Are you washing your hands dozens of times a day? That’s hardly surprising. The flu epidemic that’s sweeping the country has everyone freaked out. Virtually every public service announcement about how to avoid catching the flu involves advice to wash your hands. The CDC says, “washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu.” There’s actually some question about the effectiveness of frequent hand washing, but more about that shortly. One thing that’s crystal clear, however, is the impact of hand washing so often: dry skin and cracks! What can you do to overcome this curse?

What Happens when You Wash Your Hands Frequently?

When you wash you hands over and over again in the winter you strip away the natural oils in your skin. Couple that with dry air and you have a recipe for serious skin damage. Some liquid soaps may be especially problematic. That’s because the chemicals in foaming agents, detergents and surfactants can be irritating to the skin. If your hands are red and rough it’s hardly any wonder. Is there anything you can do to counteract dry skin and cracks?

Dermatologists often recommend moisturizers that are super greasy. This is supposed to seal in water. Some of the doctor-recommended products include petroleum jelly (found in Aquaphor, Vaseline and Eucerin). Eucerin Original Healing and Aquaphor Healing Ointment also contain mineral oil and lanolin along with other ingredients.

We cannot challenge the experts when they say greasy skin creams work well for rough dry skin and cracks. The only trouble with such moisturizers is that your hands will remain greasy for quite a while. Try typing on a keyboard or touching a smart phone after slathering up and you will know instantly what we are talking about. Some people hate feeling like a greased pig.

Does Hand Washing Help Prevent Catching the Flu?

Just asking such a question is heresy. It is taken as an article of faith by public health officials, TV docs and just about everyone else that the way to avoid influenza is to wash your hands a lot. But is there any solid scientific evidence to support this belief?

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) constitute a large part of the total disease burden among people in productive ages and cause significant costs for society. Hand-washing is typically recommended as a central non-pharmacological measure against ARI, but the evidence for its effectiveness is surprisingly sparse, weak and divergent.”

Did you catch that last sentence? Despite all the admonitions to wash your hands frequently during cold and flu season…“the evidence for its effectiveness is surprisingly sparse, weak and divergent.”

The Swedish investigators gave questionnaires to 4,365 residents of Stockholm during the winter of 2009-2010. These were people who reported acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) during a flu pandemic in that country. Here is what the study uncovered:

It didn’t matter whether people washed their hands 2-4 times a day, 5-9 times a day, 10-19 times a day or more than 20 times a day. The authors reported “no significant decrease in acute respiratory tract infections among these different groups. They noted:

A similar lack of effect was seen for influenza-like illness, and in all investigated subgroups.”

In the discussion section of the paper the researchers reported:

The overall results of this population-based prospective observational study with adjustments for contact behaviour provide no support for the notion that own habitual hand-washing above 4 times daily confers protection to the hand-washing individual against respiratory tract infection…

“Our negative results may seem counterintuitive and in conflict with the existing literature. However, although many studies conclude that hand-washing should be recommended as a public health measure in the face of threatening upper respiratory tract virus epidemics, the scientific evidence remains unconvincing. “

Conclusions

We conclude, although with a number of caveats, that an increasing frequency of self-defined hand-washes among healthy individuals does not seem to be associated with a decreasing incidence of ARIs or ILIs [influenza-like illnesses].”

Would Dry Skin and Cracks Benefit from Less Hand Washing?

It seems blasphemous to suggest less hand washing with soap and water. That is, after all, the foundation upon which virtually every anti-flu message is based. And yet if there isn’t solid scientific evidence to support this practice, why not consider an alternate approach.

Cetaphil:

Dermatologists we have spoken to often recommend Cetaphil as a non-soap gentle cleanser. Unlike liquid soaps, it does not strip natural oils from the skin and it can be applied and wiped off without using water. It can be especially helpful for removing makeup. One reader shared this:

Candice offers advice to other teachers:

Start at the source of why your hands are dry and cracking…drying soaps and dry air.

“Bring your own soap to school. Bar soaps are better than liquid for dry skin. I LOVE Neolia, an olive oil-based soap. It is hard to find in stores but you can get it direct from the manufacturer.

“Always wear gloves when washing dishes or working with any kind of detergent. Use a humidifier in your home and the classroom.

T.S. suggests an oily natural moisturizer after hand washing:

The best thing is to moisturize following each hand washing, to prevent the problem. I like to put a small amount of olive oil on my cuticles; massage it in, followed by any good, thick moisture cream. The cream mixes nicely with the oil, aiding the absorption.

“If I neglect to do this even once during the winter, I get the cracks and split cuticles.”

Dove Unscented Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar:

We have personally been using Dove bars for decades. One of the grand old men of dermatology, Albert Kligman, MD, tested a variety of bar soaps and reported that Dove stood out as one of the mildest and least likely to cause irritation (Acta Dermato-Venereologica, Jan. 1997). Many years ago Testers for Consumers Union also gave Dove Unscented White their top rating. The manufacturer brands its products “beauty cream bars” rather than soaps. That’s in part because they contain a significant amount of moisturizing cream.

An ordinary moisturizer might not be strong enough when the air is really dry due to indoor heating and frequent hand washing. Yes, we know that we pointed out the lack of scientific support for this practice, but old habits are hard to give up. And you will continue to hear authoritative talking heads insist that you need to wash your hands dozens of times a day.

“We found that flu cases contaminated the air around them with infectious virus just by breathing, without coughing or sneezing,” explained Dr. Donald Milton, M.D., DrPH, professor of environmental health in the University of Maryland School of Public Health and lead researcher of this study. “People with flu generate infectious aerosols (tiny droplets that stay suspended in the air for a long time) even when they are not coughing, and especially during the first days of illness. So when someone is coming down with influenza, they should go home and not remain in the workplace and infect others.”

I have yet to hear “experts” emphasizing the need to wear a face mask during flu season. Why not?

The 8 oz tub is a great deal. Here is a link. You will also find reviews from people who have used it. The handy 2 oz. tube can go with you in your pocketbook. Guys like it too because there is no fragrance and it is not greasy like so many other moisturizers.

I (Joe) grew up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania. Believe me when I say that cow’s udders get red and chapped. That’s why dairy famers used products like Bag Balm and Udder Cream. Bag Balm contains petroleum jelly and lanolin, which makes it super greasy.

You can read more about moisturizers in our Guide to Skin Care & Treatment. Look for Udderly Smooth Body Cream, a great value, at CVS, Rite-Aid, WalMart First Aid and Walgreens.

Winter Skin Survival Kit

It’s not just your hands that suffer at this time of year. Lips are suffering too. Do you find yourself licking your lips a lot. That will only make chapped lips worse.

We have put together a winter skin survival kit to combat chapped lips and dry skin. It contains our lip balms and Redex Udderly Smooth Creams with urea. Take advantage of substantial savings (The Winter Skin Survival Kit saves you $6.22). It contains all three of our lip balms plus a handy two-ounce tube of Udderly Smooth Extra Care 20 cream and a large economy-sized tub for home use. Here is a link.

13 Thoughts Shared

Patty

February 9, 2018 at 8:06 pm

To prevent cracked hands, be sure NOT to use Dawn dishwashing liquid unless you wear dishwashing gloves. Though it’s “tough on grease”, it is also tough on hands. I too wear soft disposable exam or food service gloves when I use the the bathroom if my hands are already in bad shape. You can get extra-long ones for a decent price online if that is needed.

Once hands have cracked, I treat nightly with a mixture of Jason’s Vitamin E oil (get the one without any herbs, that is “extra strength” – 32,000 units) plus Eucerin Original Formula. I work in as much as I can, all over my hands, then put on soft disposable vinyl exam gloves, and wear them overnight, or for at least 4 – 6 hours during the day. I poke small holes all over the gloves to allow perspiration to evaporate, but no greasy oil can get out on anything. If I need to use the bathroom, I can slip another disposable gloves over the ones with holes.

I find that a good quality vitamin E oil can heal a lot of skin scars, burns, etc, leaving skin looking perfect. Like re-hydrating damaged skin, It requires patience and repeated application.

Lyn

February 6, 2018 at 2:18 am

My dermatologist recommended 5,000 mcg of biotin to be taken daily during cracked skin season. I also take a B complex vitamin supplement along with the biotin so all the B vitamins are supplied at the same time. Having no water for a day, I discovered that wearing thin vinyl gloves for any bathroom use and using distilled water when preparing food at the end of the day, my fingers had no cracks. Flouride and chlorine in treated water may be the major culprits in drying out skin. When that telltale sore spot starts just prior to a split I apply calendula gel, let it dry and follow with a painting of new skin. I have been using calendula at night with great results.

Phoebe

PA

February 3, 2018 at 6:37 pm

Every winter, I develop a crack on my right thumb above the nail. If I catch it early, O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream heals it. It’s wonderful for dry cracked hands in general. I can’t use lanolin, and this cream does not have it. If I’ve spent the day wearing leather gloves, I often need to put New Skin on the crack.

Jer

WI

February 3, 2018 at 1:59 pm

There’s a saying in chemistry that “like” dissolves or removes “like”. That’s the reason Vaseline does a much better job of removing grease from the hands than soap. Consequently, I always use a hand cream instead of soap and water to clean my hands. I wipe them dry on a disposable towel. Reusable towels can contain some of the microbes you are trying to get rid of.

Janie

Chicago

February 3, 2018 at 1:48 pm

I have found a couple remedies to help heal the painful and annoying thumb/finger cracks. If an aloe plant is near buy, snip off a piece and apply the sticky substance to the crack. I do this at bed time and cover it with a band aid. Also, the product, New Skin, Liquid bandage works wonders and allows you to keep washing your hands, etc. without having to constantly change wet bandages.

Marie

February 2, 2018 at 6:20 pm

I live at more than a mile above sea level where our air is especially dry. Each winter my fingers and hands would crack and bleed, but not this winter. Now I apply extra virgin olive oil to my hands, arms, neck, face, legs and feet every morning and evening. It soaks in so fast that it’s not oily at all! My right thumb has only cracked once this winter. It works even better than the A & D ointment I used last winter.

Ceecee

Washington

February 2, 2018 at 6:15 pm

Reeb

Wilnston Salem NC

February 2, 2018 at 2:51 pm

As an Environmental Health Specialist (Sanitarian we used to be called) I am dismayed at this advice against hand washing. Warm running water over the hands and using Aveeno as a soap substitute is one possible solution to dry hands. Aveeno et.al. contains compounds that :
1. clean the skin
2. moisturize the skin
3. it is not greasy
So, thanks for the public forum!

Linda

Florida

February 2, 2018 at 1:09 pm

Linda

USA

February 2, 2018 at 12:39 pm

As a 24/7 caregiver, I must wash my hands all day long. My fingertips started cracking by the nails and it was very painful. I was afraid I had picked up something from DH because I never remember to wear gloves.

Nope, googled it and it is common. Their suggestion was to use either “super glue” or New Skin liquid bandage. Worked like a charm!!

I also have Lanolin on hand (told to buy for DH’s feet – didn’t work) and I use that with a little handcream. Seems to soothe.

Carol

Texas

February 2, 2018 at 12:39 pm

I have had problems for years with bleeding cracks on my fingers, especially in the winter. A friend with the same problem gave me the name of the product that he finally found. Amlactin has been a wonder cream for me! I have shared it with family and friends and everyone agrees it is wonderful. I use it once at night and seldom need it more often. I use the cream, not the lotion.

stan

February 2, 2018 at 9:43 am

One thing I’ve found that helps with dry hands (particularly across the knuckles) is to gently wipe your hands with a soft towel after washing them. Hand towels are typically used more than once and they tend to get harder after each use as they dry out. Don’t use a towel that is hard and don’t rub your hands vigorously to dry. Instead pat them dry with a soft towel.

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About the Author

Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.” Read Joe's Full Bio.